Eagles studs and duds from preseason game in Jacksonville

The final score (31-24 in favor of the Eagles) means nothing. Yipee, the Eagles won a game that doesn't count in the standings. Still there were a lot of positives to take from Saturday night in Jacksonville.

Offense, defense, special teams, the Eagles showed some signs of being an improved team this season. They actually intercepted a pass, had some nice returns and moved the ball well. It goes to show that there is hope, despite a slow start offensive and defensively against the Jaguars.

Of course, there are some reasons (turnovers and lack of talent at certain positions) to be concerned as well. It's all explained in this season's first Studs and Duds.

STUDSVinny Curry
The second-year defensive lineman has been the Eagles' best player in preseason action. Hands down. Curry came into the game Saturday night in the second half and dominated. He blew up a running play and hit Jags quarterback Chad Henne on back-to-back plays early in the third quarter. Even more impressive? That sequence came against Jacksonville's starting offensive line. Curry again got off the line quickly, showed quick feet, good body control and strength throughout the second half as a defensive end. It's going to be hard for the Eagles to keep Curry off the field with the way he performed Saturday and throughout the preseason.

Jason Peters
OK, this has little to do with Peters' performance. He wasn't his normal All-Pro self on Saturday night at left tackle. Peters was good, not great. But it was his first game in over 20 months. The fact that he made it through the contest unscathed made it an overwhelming success. Peters played into the third quarter and showed flashes of why he's considered by some the best left tackle in football.

Nick Foles
It's hard to argue with what Foles did in the second half. He went 10-of-11 passing for 112 yards and had the offense in rhythm. In fact, for some reason, the offense seems to move faster with the second-year quarterback running it than with anyone else. Foles made quick decisions and looked like he was in total control. The Eagles scored touchdowns on their final two possessions with him in the game before kneeling on the ball in the final seconds.

DUDS
Nate Allen/Earl Wolff
The safeties struggled as they battle to win the starting spot. Allen was on the field for 23 snaps in the first half and didn't make an impact. He finished with one tackle that came 10 yards downfield. It actually was almost a missed tackle as the runner stumbled five yards after being hit by Allen. As for the rookie Wolff, he only played seven snaps in the first half despite alternating series' with Allen on the first-team defense. Wolff made a glaring miscue by taking a poor angle on Jordan Todman's 63-yard touchdown run. Wolff also resurfaced with the third team in the fourth quarter and finished the contest with no tackles, no assists, no passes defended, nada.